Seventeen Voyces Returns after a Two-Year Absence

On Friday, October 21, and Saturday October 22, 2022 at 7:30 pm Seventeen Voyces, Ottawa’s premier chamber choir – directed by Kevin Reeves – will present the 1924 silent film classic Peter Pan at Southminister United Church (16 Aylmer Avenue at Bank Street). Tickets are $30, $20 for students, and are available at www.seventeenvoyces.ca and at the door.

The film will be projected on a large screen and accompanied by live Choral music plus organ virtuoso Matthew Larkin, and ‘faerie harpist’ Lucile Hildesheim. Under the very able direction of Kevin Reeves, founding director of Seventeen Voyces celebrating its 25th season this year, this promises to be terrific evening. Seventeen Voyces has presented silent film screenings for many years, including The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Phantom of the Opera. These imaginative film presentations have attracted large crowds of silent film buffs and music lovers.

Peter Pan and His Shadow

The 1924 silent film is based on Scottish novelist J.M. Barrie’s ever-popular children’s story, Peter Pan, about a mischievous boy who spends his eternal childhood on an island called Neverland. The film stars the whimsical Betty Bronson – chosen by the author himself –as Peter Pan.

The film is beautifully produced and full of memorable characters such as Wendy Darling, Tinkerbell and of course the villain Captain Hook. It is marvelous entertainment for the family and a terrific lead-up to Hallowe’en.

The program features musical excerpts from Felix Mendelssohn’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “Hear My Prayer.” Also, there are excerpts from Henry Purcell’s “Indian Queen,” Ralph Vaughan Williams “Three Shakespeare Songs” and “Ward the Pirate” as well as works by Frederick Delius and John Rutter.

Matthew Larkin

An artist who often performs with Seventeen Voyces, Matthew Larkin will perform throughout the evening. Matthew has forged a successful career in various musical forums, including as a choral and orchestral conductor and educator, a composer and arranger, accompanist and recording artist. Originally from Oxford (UK), Matthew’s early musical training was in Kingston, as a chorister and then an assistant organist at St. George’s Cathedral. He was an organ scholar of Trinity College at the University of Toronto, where he was a student of John Tuttle, and subsequently the Royal College of Music, London. One of Canada’s most influential liturgical musicians, he has held appointments in Toronto, Ottawa, and Victoria, and was director of music at Christ Church Cathedral here in Ottawa, for fifteen years. He founded the Caelis Academy Ensemble and has served as musical director of other noteworthy Canadian ensembles. His recital work has taken him worldwide, and his collaborative projects have produced commercially successful recordings on several labels. His recital work has taken him worldwide, and his collaborative projects have produced commercially successful recording on several labels. Matthew is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists and has served as a member of its Examinations Committee. He currently serves as Custodian for Music at St. Andrew’s Church in Ottawa, dividing his time between there and Toronto, while attending to choral, conducting, recital, recording, and live-streaming projects

Lucille Hildesheim

Although Lucille Hildesheim began as a piano student, even as a child in Montreal, she knew quickly that she was meant to be a harpist. A graduate of Mc Gill University (performance), she has performed across Canada and the United States. Based in Ottawa as a performer, a teacher and examiner for the Royal Conservatory. While her musical roots are classical, recently she has been exploring Celtic music and performing as part of a harp-flute duo with flautist Sheila White. Lucille is a musician with a high technical command of her instrument, who brings a very distinctive touch to the music she performs as you will hear during the evening.

Join us for a magical evening and a wonderful launch to Seventeen Voyces 25th Season.

Christmas Concert

Mark your calendars for Seventeen Voyces’ Christmas concert Tuesday, December 6, 2022. We will be guests of Thirteen Strings for their annual Christmas concert at the Carleton Dominion Chalmers Centre (at 355 Cooper St.). Repertoire includes two Bach cantatas and “Fantasia on Christmas Carols” by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Karen Junke is a Seventeen Voyces Board Member.

Featured in the October 2022 OSCAR.